(KPL) Authorities  and  people  of  Savannakhet  held  a  ceremony  on  May  25  to  announce  the city  status  of  Kaysone  Phomvihane  and  celebrated   the  1,000,000th  child  of  the  province  at  the Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial. 

Translate into reality the resolution of 10^th National Congress of Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith issued last month three decrees approving the upgrading of  three  districts  to  cities  including  Luang  Prabang  of  Luang  Prabang  Province,  Kaysone  Phomvihane of Savannakhet Province and Pakse of Champassak Province. 

To  be  classified  as  a  city,  a  municipality  must  have  a  population  of  at  least  60,000 and  be financially self sufficient with regard to administration costs.  Present  at  the  event  included  President  Bounnhang  Vorachit,  President  of  the Lao  Front  for  National   Development   Xaysomphone   Phomvihane,   Savannakhet   Governor   Santiphab Phomvihane, ministers, senior officials and local people.

“Upgrading Kaysone Phomvihane district to a city is to promote the role and the reputation of Kaysone  Phomvihane  district in  the  region  and  the  world.  This  especially represents  its regional integration  and  cooperation  designed to  attract  investment   and assistance its development making  sure  it  is  comprehensively  strengthened,  civilized  and  modern,”  said  Vice Governor of Savannakhet Phoxay Xayasone. 

Kaysone  Phomvihane  City  has  a  population  of 125,726 people  including  63,713 females,  a  land area of 779.03 sq km, and a population density of 162 people/sq km. 

Most  of  its  households  have an access  to  electricity,  water  supply,  telecommunication services, education, and health. 

The annual per capita income of the city is US$ 2,041. The 1,000,000^th  child of Kaysone Phomvihane City was born on 7 December 2017.

“The  birth  of  the  child  proves  that  local  authorities  attach  importance  to  achieving  the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations and that Savannakhet has a healthcare system that is good, seeking to meet high standards and accessible; its population growth rate is appropriate for the nation's future needs and the living standards of local people have been improved,” said Vice Governor Phoxay Xayasone.

KPL